Published: October 15, 2009 11:16 pm      

We see why he’s out; but why is he in?

Whether or not your personal feelings for Rush Limbaugh are along the same lines as the title of Al Franken’s 1996 book, “Rush Limbaugh Is A Big Fat Idiot,” know one thing: Rush Limbaugh is not an idiot.

Rush Limbaugh wasn’t surprised or disappointed; nor was he hurt when much of the public, including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, stated their serious misgivings about his being a part of Dave Checketts’ proposed ownership group of the St. Louis Rams.

There’s no reason not to believe Limbaugh truly wanted to be part of that ownership group, and that he truly does love the NFL as he said he does the other day before he was dumped by Checketts because his participation was complicating the group’s efforts to purchase the Rams. But why would he be disappointed he wasn’t wanted? All that did was stir up more attention for him. All that did was provide him with more fodder for his followers to rant and rave about. All that did was put more money in his pocket. So regardless of how you feel about him, he didn’t get to be as filthy rich as he is by being stupid.

Limbaugh knew going in he wasn’t going to make the cut — or be allowed in. And now that he’s had the NFL door slammed in his face, that and the opposition his proposed inclusion in the Checketts group created has just given millions of Rushians out there more to complain about, which, for Limbaugh, is like having a Democrat in the White House: It’s gold, Jerry! It’s gold! And naturally, Limbaugh wasted no time in taking advantage of the situation, saying Thursday on his radio show he believes what happened to him was an illustration of “Obama’s America on full display.”

So as we can see, the outrage of the notion of Rush Limbaugh being involved in an NFL ownership group played right into his hands, because Limbaugh, in case you haven’t yet figured this out, is not really in the business of promoting conservative ideals or ideology; he’s in the business of promoting Rush Limbaugh.

Just as Captain Louis Renault was “shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!” the moment before a croupier handed him a pile of money he had just won gambling, Limbaugh goes to his radio show to display his shock, his hurt feelings and all that’s wrong with Obama’s America because he doesn’t get to be an NFL owner. And the croupier known has his loyal listeners hands him a pile of money by tuning in to criticize and complain right along with him. For just as the only cause Rhett Butler believed in was Rhett Butler, the only cause Rush Limbaugh believes in is Rush Limbaugh.

But, you know, how on earth can there possibly be a Washington Redskins fan out there anywhere on the face of this earth who could honestly or earnestly say, “Rush Limbaugh own an NFL team? What a reprehensible thought,” given who owns the Redskins lock, stock and barrel? Heck, all Limbaugh wanted to be was a limited partner. He understands he doesn’t need complete control of an NFL team to celebrate his megalomania.

Hey, it’s getting just plain old funkytown at Redskins Park these days, folks, as now you’ve got former Redskins greats Sonny Jurgensen, Sam Huff, Joe Theismann and John Riggins ripping quarterback Jason Campbell, head coach Jim Zorn and, of course, the so-called personnel moves of Vinny Cerrato.

Meanwhile, two prominent Redskins players on offense and a veteran defensive player told the Washington Post they want team management to publicly address Zorn's job security, saying if the team doesn't intend to fire Zorn, he should be given a public vote of confidence.

"I wish someone upstairs would just say he's going to be our coach for the season," one of the players told the Post. "That way, we don't have to answer any more questions about it and everybody knows we're in this boat together."

Yeah. We’re in this boat together. That’s why these loyal and gutsy players spoke on the condition their names not be used in the article.

We’re in this boat together? Please.

Say this, though, for cornerbacks DeAngelo Hall and Carlos Rogers. They showed some stones in cutting to the skinny of the problem: “I don’t know if we've got the right personnel here to do it," said Hall; with Rogers going as far to say, “It not only starts with the players, coaches; it starts with the ownership. They bring everybody in and they’ve got last say-so of everything, so that’s where it starts, I guess.”

Should the Redskins lose to yet another winless team on Sunday, which I don’t see happening, it won’t be the owner at whom the owner points the finger. It’s never the owner’s fault, after all, particularly this owner’s. Which, given how sharply Rush Limbaugh reacts to what happens in Washington, D.C., perhaps is why he believes he’s qualified for NFL ownership.

It’s not so difficult to understand why the NFL didn’t want Limbaugh. What’s difficult to understand is why the NFL wanted so many of the ones they’ve already let in.

Mike Burke is sports editor of the Cumberland Times-News. Contact Mike Burke at mburke@times-news.com.